Archive By Section - Letters

Most folks running for political office claim their previous political "experience" is just the thing that proves they deserve your vote this November. Sometimes that is absolutely true. Sometimes, however, as in the current city council race, that previous experience is the very thing that voters should remember as creating one of the most contentious, unpleasant four years in Camden's recent memory.

On Nov. 4th, we will fill two seats on Camden City Council. We have an outstanding candidate in Bob Williams. He is dedicated to helping Camden grow and move forward in a positive way. Bob was born and raised in Camden, and attended and graduated from our public schools. He owns and operates a local business and understands the needs of the small business and property owners. He would never exploit the office for personal gain.

The Kershaw County School Board response in Monday's Chronicle-Independent to Scott Jordan's statement on Zemp Stadium is nothing if not informative. If you haven't been paying attention, the school district has proposed a facilities referendum for the November election which would, among other things, abandon Zemp Stadium while spending millions of additional taxpayer dollars on a new stadium on Ehrenclou Drive.

The election for two new members of the Camden City Council is on the ballot for Nov. 4. Voters should be reminded to vote for two of the three candidates. Two of the three candidates will be elected. Candidates for the office include Bob Williams, life-long resident of Camden and owner of Bob Williams Auto Body Repair; Deborah Davis, manager of the Habitat for Humanity Store; and Jeffrey Graham of Graham Realty and former mayor. The new council members will replace Walter Long and Willard Polk who have provided excellent service to the citizens for many years.

With this coming November's mid-term election, the timing is at hand for our voting citizens to give our governor, Nikki Haley, an extended vacation. There are too many woes in her leadership causing affliction in our state.

It is not my intention to belabor a subject I have already addressed in a previous letter. That being, that I personally am opposed to the two November referendums that would allow the Kershaw County school board to borrow $130 million via bonds, and for the imposition of an additional "penny" sales and or use tax to finance it. Rather, I just want to present the subject from a different perspective, that may simplify or clarify it, or at least bring it a little closer to home and see how it might affect individuals.

On Sunday afternoon (Sept. 7), my friend was driving south of Jefferson Davis Highway. It was raining, with lots of thunder and lightning. When she got past the BP station, a transformer must have exploded. Her car hit the pole. She suffered some bad injuries.

On Aug. 24, 2013, my brother, Alan Robinson, was cruelly and brutally murdered. The week of Aug. 24, 2014, his killer was tried, found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole for his crime.

About two weeks ago, my son was married in Kershaw County. The Southern hospitality that was extended to our family was exceptional. I have been to weddings in many states and this location here was one of the best venues I have ever seen. The location was Rock Bottom Pond -- they have a great website (rockbottompondadventures.com) that shows what they have to offer. Instead of people going to Columbia, Florence or Charleston, spending their money in another county, I believe they would find it right here. George Speedy and his lovely wife, Donna, streamlined the process with Donna coordinating ...

Labor Day … is a special time of year for this senior citizen. In my working years, the corporations of America let their faces shine on the working class. In that era, I was blessed to be taught to see not only utility in labor, but beauty and dignity.

While it may be overly ambitious to tackle academia and government at the same time, to some extent, that is what I'm going to do. And in doing so, heaven forbid I assume an Obama level of arrogance required to advise you what to do. I simply am saying what I am going to do and give reasons for my decision.